Method and Apparatus for Multiple Access Transmission

ABSTRACT

The present disclosure relates to a method and an apparatus for multiple access transmission. The method includes: determining (S 401 ) a first signature allocated to a first transmission; and determining (S 402 ) a second signature allocated to a second transmission. With hopping of the signature, the successful rate of NOMA transmission in the communication system will be improved.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present disclosure relates generally to the technology of wirelesscommunication, and in particular, to a method and apparatus for multipleaccess transmission.

BACKGROUND

This section introduces aspects that may facilitate better understandingof the disclosure. Accordingly, the statements of this section are to beread in this light and are not to be understood as admissions about whatis in the prior art or what is not in the prior art.

FIG. 1 is an exemplary block diagram showing nodes in a typicalcommunication system. As shown in FIG. 1, in a communication network,there may be a demand for node 100 to communicate with a plurality ofnodes 201, 202, 203 . . . , simultaneously. For example, one networknode (e.g. base station) may be arranged to communicate with a pluralityof wireless devices (e.g. user equipments (UE)), or a plurality oftransmission branches/layers (including independent transport blocks(TB)) of a wireless device.

In order to distinguish different signals from/to a plurality of nodes,one solution is to ensure, or at least attempting to ensure,orthogonality of the transmitted signals, as in a conventionalorthogonal multiple access (OMA) manner. In such manner, transmissionresources, such as time, frequency, or spatial allocation areorthogonally divided for transmitting different signals. Accordingly, toaccount for imperfections (not completely orthogonal) in such allocationor in the propagation channel for these signals, restoring orthogonalityis the aim of a receiver procedure. Equalizers, IRC- and other MMSE-likereceivers for e.g. S-OFDM or MIMO transmission, and non-linear variantsof such receivers are used. IRC refers to interference rejectioncombining, MMSE refers to minimum mean square error, S-OFDM refers tospread-orthogonal frequency division multiplexing, and MIMO refers tomultiple-input multiple-output.

However, in some scenarios, the transmission resources may be not enoughto be divided. For example, in some scenarios, one base station needs tohandle a larger number of UEs over given resources than that would beallowed according to the OMA approach, e.g. when the available degreesof freedom (DoF) of given resources are fewer than the number of UEs tobe served.

In order to improve the number of nodes to be served in a communicationsystem, a method for non-orthogonal multiple access (NOMA) transmissionis further needed.

SUMMARY

Certain aspects of the present disclosure and their embodiments mayprovide a solution to at least part of these or other challenges. Thereare, proposed herein, various embodiments which address one or more ofthe issues disclosed herein.

A first aspect of the present disclosure provides a method for multipleaccess transmission by a transmitter. The method includes: determining afirst signature allocated to a first transmission of a block of data;and determining a second signature allocated to a second transmission ofa block of data.

In embodiments of the present disclosure, the first signature isselected from a first set of signatures, and the second signature isselected from a second set of signatures.

In embodiments of the present disclosure, the first signature and thesecond signature are selected randomly. The first set of signatures andthe second set of signatures are predefined based on a transmissionpolicy, or are configured by a transmission node.

In embodiments of the present disclosure, the transmission node is anode on network side of a communication system.

In embodiments of the present disclosure, the first set of signaturesand the second set of signatures are received via layer 1 signalling ora higher layer signalling.

In embodiments of the present disclosure, the layer 1 signallingincludes downlink control information signalling.

In embodiments of the present disclosure, the first set of signaturesand the second set of signatures are the same.

In embodiments of the present disclosure, the second transmission is are-transmission of the first transmission. A size of the second set ofsignatures is smaller than a size of the first set of signatures.

In embodiments of the present disclosure, the first transmission is aninitial transmission, and the second transmission is another initialtransmission. Or, the first transmission is a re-transmission of aninitial transmission, and the second transmission is anotherre-transmission of the initial transmission.

In embodiments of the present disclosure, the method further includes:determining a first frequency resource allocated to the firsttransmission; and determining a second frequency resource allocated tothe second transmission.

In embodiments of the present disclosure, the method further includes:determining a first redundancy version of an incremental redundancyallocated to the first transmission; and determining a second redundancyversion of an incremental redundancy allocated to the secondtransmission.

In embodiments of the present disclosure, the at least one of the firstsignature and the second signature is determined based on a transmissionpolicy, or configured by a transmission node.

In embodiments of the present disclosure, the at least one of the firstsignature and the second signature is determined based on a transmissionparameter.

In embodiments of the present disclosure, transmission parameterincludes at least one of: a frequency, a redundancy version, and asystem frame number.

In embodiments of the present disclosure, a relationship between the atleast one of the first signature and the second signature, and thetransmission parameter is predefined based on a transmission policy, orconfigured by a transmission node.

In embodiments of the present disclosure, the at least one of the firstsignature and the second signature includes at least one of: an encodingparameter, a modulating parameter, a spreading parameter, a resourcemapping parameter, a power allocation parameter, a resource mappingpattern, and an orthogonal cover code.

In embodiments of the present disclosure, the spreading parameterincludes: a spreading sequence.

In embodiments of the present disclosure, the transmitter is a userequipment.

In embodiments of the present disclosure, the transmitter is atransmission branch of a user equipment.

In embodiments of the present disclosure, the transmitter is a basestation.

In embodiments of the present disclosure, the at least one of the firstsignature and the second signature is allocated to a block of data to betransmitted during one of: an uplink transmission, a downlinktransmission, and a sidelink transmission.

A second aspect of the present disclosure provides a method for multipleaccess transmission by a transmitter. A set of signatures is arrangedfor a group of transmitters including the transmitter. The methodcomprises: allocating a signature from the set of signatures to atransmission of a block of data, which is different from anothersignature allocated from the set of signatures by another transmitter inthe group of transmitters, in response to that the transmitter shares atransmission resource with the another transmitter.

A third aspect of the present disclosure provides a method for multipleaccess transmission by a transmitter. The transmitter is configured tocommunicate with a group of receivers. A set of signatures is arrangedfor the group of receivers. The method comprises: allocating a signaturefrom the set of signatures to a transmission of a block of data for areceiver in the group of receivers, which is different from anothersignature in the set of signatures allocated for another receiver in thegroup of receivers, in response to that the receiver shares atransmission resource with the another receiver.

A fourth aspect of the present disclosure provides an apparatus formultiple access transmission, including: a processor; and a memorycontaining instructions executable by the processor. The apparatus isoperative to the method described above.

A fifth aspect of the present disclosure provides a computer readablestorage medium having a computer program stored thereon, the computerprogram is executable by a device to cause the device to carry out themethod described above.

A sixth aspect of the present disclosure provides a communication systemincluding a host computer comprising: processing circuitry configured toprovide user data; and a communication interface configured to forwardthe user data to a cellular network for transmission to a terminaldevice. The cellular network comprises a base station. The base stationis the apparatus described above, or the terminal device is theapparatus described above.

In embodiments of the present disclosure, the communication systemfurther includes the terminal device. The terminal device is configuredto communicate with the base station.

In embodiments of the present disclosure, the processing circuitry ofthe host computer is configured to execute a host application, therebyproviding the user data; and the terminal device comprises processingcircuitry configured to execute a client application associated with thehost application.

A seventh aspect of the present disclosure provides a communicationsystem including a host computer comprising: a communication interfaceconfigured to receive user data originating from a transmission from aterminal device; and a base station. The transmission is from theterminal device to the base station. The base station is the apparatusdescribed above, or the terminal device is the apparatus describedabove.

In embodiments of the present disclosure, the processing circuitry ofthe host computer is configured to execute a host application; theterminal device is configured to execute a client application associatedwith the host application, thereby providing the user data to bereceived by the host computer.

With hopping of the signature, (namely, usage of different signaturesfor different transmissions), the diversity gain for the transmission isimproved. Namely, it will be easier to distinguish different signalsfrom different transmitter. The successful rate of transmission in thecommunication system will be improved. More users may be served by thenetwork.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

Through the more detailed description of some embodiments of the presentdisclosure in the accompanying drawings, the above and other objects,features and advantages of the present disclosure will become moreapparent, wherein the same reference generally refers to the samecomponents in the embodiments of the present disclosure.

FIG. 1 is an exemplary block diagram showing nodes in a communicationsystem;

FIG. 2 is an exemplary flow chart showing a method for processing datato be transmitted wirelessly by a transmitter;

FIG. 3 is an exemplary block diagram showing a matrix structure obtainedby spreading QAM symbols;

FIG. 4 is exemplary flow chart showing a method for multiple accesstransmission by a transmitter according to embodiments of the presentdisclosure;

FIG. 5 is exemplary flow chart showing other exemplary steps of themethod in FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is another exemplary flow chart showing other exemplary steps ofthe method in FIG. 4;

FIG. 7 is a block diagram showing an apparatus in accordance with someembodiments;

FIG. 8 is a schematic showing virtualization apparatus for thetransmitter in accordance with some embodiments;

FIG. 9 is a schematic showing computer readable storage medium inaccordance with some embodiments;

FIG. 10 is a schematic showing a wireless network in accordance withsome embodiments;

FIG. 11 is a schematic showing a user equipment in accordance with someembodiments;

FIG. 12 is a schematic showing a virtualization environment inaccordance with some embodiments;

FIG. 13 is a schematic showing a telecommunication network connected viaan intermediate network to a host computer in accordance with someembodiments;

FIG. 14 is a schematic showing a host computer communicating via a basestation with a user equipment over a partially wireless connection inaccordance with some embodiments;

FIG. 15 is a schematic showing methods implemented in a communicationsystem including a host computer, a base station and a user equipment inaccordance with some embodiments;

FIG. 16 is a schematic showing methods implemented in a communicationsystem including a host computer, a base station and a user equipment inaccordance with some embodiments;

FIG. 17 is a schematic showing methods implemented in a communicationsystem including a host computer, a base station and a user equipment inaccordance with some embodiments; and

FIG. 18 is a schematic showing methods implemented in a communicationsystem including a host computer, a base station and a user equipment inaccordance with some embodiments.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Some of the embodiments contemplated herein will now be described morefully with reference to the accompanying drawings. Other embodiments,however, are contained within the scope of the subject matter disclosedherein, the disclosed subject matter should not be construed as limitedto only the embodiments set forth herein; rather, these embodiments areprovided by way of example to convey the scope of the subject matter tothose skilled in the art.

Generally, all terms used herein are to be interpreted according totheir ordinary meaning in the relevant technical field, unless adifferent meaning is clearly given and/or is implied from the context inwhich it is used. All references to a/an/the element, apparatus,component, means, step, etc. are to be interpreted openly as referringto at least one instance of the element, apparatus, component, means,step, etc., unless explicitly stated otherwise. The steps of any methodsdisclosed herein do not have to be performed in the exact orderdisclosed, unless a step is explicitly described as following orpreceding another step and/or where it is implicit that a step mustfollow or precede another step. Any feature of any of the embodimentsdisclosed herein may be applied to any other embodiment, whereverappropriate. Likewise, any advantage of any of the embodiments may applyto any other embodiments, and vice versa. Other objectives, features andadvantages of the enclosed embodiments will be apparent from thefollowing description.

Reference throughout this specification to features, advantages, orsimilar language does not imply that all of the features and advantagesthat may be realized with the present disclosure should be or are in anysingle embodiment of the disclosure. Rather, language referring to thefeatures and advantages is understood to mean that a specific feature,advantage, or characteristic described in connection with an embodimentis included in at least one embodiment of the present disclosure.Furthermore, the described features, advantages, and characteristics ofthe disclosure may be combined in any suitable manner in one or moreembodiments. One skilled in the relevant art will recognize that thedisclosure may be practiced without one or more of the specific featuresor advantages of a particular embodiment. In other instances, additionalfeatures and advantages may be recognized in certain embodiments thatmay not be present in all embodiments of the disclosure.

As used herein, the term “network”, or “communication network/system”refers to a network/system following any suitable communicationstandards, such as new radio (NR), long term evolution (LTE),LTE-Advanced, wideband code division multiple access (WCDMA), high-speedpacket access (HSPA), and so on. Furthermore, the communications betweena terminal device and a network node in the communication network may beperformed according to any suitable generation communication protocols,including, but not limited to, the first generation (1G), the secondgeneration (2G), 2.5G, 2.75G, the third generation (3G), 4G, 4.5G, 5Gcommunication protocols, and/or any other protocols either currentlyknown or to be developed in the future.

The term “network node” or “network side node” refers to a networkdevice/apparatus/entity with accessing capability in a communicationnetwork via which a terminal device accesses to the network and receivesservices therefrom. The node/function may include a base station (BS),an access point (AP), a multi-cell/multicast coordination entity (MCE),a server node/function (such as a service capability server/applicationserver, SC S/AS, group communication service application server, GCS AS,application function, AF), an exposure node (such as a servicecapability exposure function, SCE, network exposure function, NEF), acontroller or any other suitable device in a wireless communicationnetwork. The BS may be, for example, a node B (NodeB or NB), an evolvedNodeB (eNodeB or eNB), a next generation NodeB (gNodeB or gNB), a remoteradio unit (RRU), a radio header (RH), a remote radio head (RRH), arelay, a low power node such as a femto, a pico, and so forth.

Yet further examples of the network node comprise multi-standard radio(MSR) radio equipment such as MSR BSs, network controllers such as radionetwork controllers (RNCs) or base station controllers (BSCs), basetransceiver stations (BTSs), transmission points, transmission nodes,positioning nodes and/or the like. More generally, however, the networknode may represent any suitable device (or group of devices) capable,configured, arranged, and/or operable to enable and/or provide aterminal device access to a wireless communication network or to providesome service to a terminal device that has accessed to the wirelesscommunication network.

The term terminal device encompasses a device which is able tocommunicate with a network node, such as a base station, or with anotherwireless device by transmitting and/or receiving wireless signals. Thus,the term terminal device encompasses, but is not limited to: a mobilephone, a stationary or mobile wireless device for machine-to-machinecommunication, an integrated or embedded wireless card, an externallyplugged in wireless card, a vehicle, etc.

As yet another specific example, in an Internet of things (IoT)scenario, a terminal device may also be called an IoT device andrepresent a machine or other device that performs monitoring, sensingand/or measurements etc., and transmits the results of such monitoring,sensing and/or measurements etc. to another terminal device and/or anetwork equipment. The terminal device may in this case be amachine-to-machine (M2M) device, which may in a 3rd generationpartnership project (3GPP) context be referred to as a machine-typecommunication (MTC) device.

As one particular example, the terminal device may be a UE implementingthe 3GPP narrow band Internet of things (NB-IoT) standard. Particularexamples of such machines or devices are sensors, metering devices suchas power meters, industrial machinery, or home or personal appliances,e.g. refrigerators, televisions, personal wearables such as watches etc.In other scenarios, a terminal device may represent a vehicle or otherequipment, for example, a medical instrument that is capable ofmonitoring, sensing and/or reporting etc. on its operational status orother functions associated with its operation.

As used herein, the terms “first”, “second” and so forth refer todifferent elements. The singular forms “a” and “an” are intended toinclude the plural forms as well, unless the context clearly indicatesotherwise. The terms “comprises”, “comprising”, “has”, “having”,“includes” and/or “including” as used herein, specify the presence ofstated features, elements, and/or components and the like, but do notpreclude the presence or addition of one or more other features,elements, components and/or combinations thereof. The term “based on” isto be read as “based at least in part on”. The term “one embodiment” and“an embodiment” are to be read as “at least one embodiment”. The term“another embodiment” is to be read as “at least one other embodiment”.Other definitions, explicit and implicit, may be included below.

FIG. 2 is an exemplary flow chart showing a method for processing datato be transmitted wirelessly by a transmitter. As shown in FIG. 2, instep S201, an encoding process is implemented for data to be transmitted200, which may be in a form of digital bits. In step S202, a modulatingprocess is implemented. In step S203, a spreading process isimplemented. In step S204, a resource mapping is implemented. In step205, an inverse fast Fourier transform is implemented.

NOMA schemes are generally based on interleaving, scrambling, orspreading methods and mapping the user data on resources that are sharedamong multiple users. Multiple users can then be scheduled in sameresources, according to a NOMA approach, with the inherent realizationthat the users' signals will not be substantially orthogonal at thereceiver. Rather, there will exist residual inter-user interference thatneeds to be handled by the receiver. By the nature of NOMA transmission,multiple signals are received non-orthogonally and the overlappingsignals will generally be separated by the receiver prior to decoding.To assist in that handling, UE-specific signature may be imposed on theindividual UEs' signals. The receiver can then use the presence of thesignatures to facilitate extracting the individual users' signals.Another equivalent view is that invoking the signatures allows theeffective end-to-end channel to be made closer to diagonal.

In embodiments of the present disclosure, the transmitter is a userequipment, or a transmission branch of a user equipment. With referenceto FIG. 1, the transmitter may be one of the nodes 201, 202, 203, whichrefers to a user equipment, or a transmission branch (layer) of a userequipment. The transmission would be an uplink transmission accordingly.

In other embodiments of the present disclosure, the transmitter is abase station. With reference to FIG. 1, the transmitter may be node 100,which refers to a base station. The transmission would be a downlinktransmission accordingly.

In other embodiments of the present disclosure, the transmission may bea sidelink transmission, such as transmissions between nodes 201, 202,203.

As shown in FIG. 2, such signature will be used in any processing step.The signature may include at least one of: an encoding parameter, amodulating parameter, a spreading parameter, a resource mappingparameter, a power allocation parameter, a resource mapping pattern, andan orthogonal cover code. Further, the spreading parameter may include aspreading sequence.

A spreading parameter will be described as an example withoutlimitation. In NOMA, UE transmissions are overlapping on shared time andfrequency resources, by using properly designed sequences/vectors inorder to spread the information symbols in frequency. In a category ofNOMA which is based on spreading, this preprocessing is carried out byrepeating the multi-level quadrature amplitude modulation (M-QAM)information symbols over a number of contiguous resource elements (REs),yet each with different weight and phase. The idea behind the NOMAparadigm is that the clever design of spreading vectors can facilitatethe implementation of advanced multi-user detectors (MUD), such as theminimum-mean squared-error (MMSE) detector or the maximum a posteriori(MAP) detector, in order to improve the joint detection/demodulation ofthe superimposed UE transmissions. The system can then achieve enhancedperformance, in terms of sum-rate and/or number of supported UEs, whenNOMA-enabled UEs are sharing the time/frequency resources and effectiveMUD solutions are used to separate their data signals.

FIG. 3 is an exemplary block diagram showing a matrix structure obtainedby spreading QAM symbols. As shown in FIG. 3, 4 REs are multiplexed to 6UEs over NOMA spreading, as an example.

A generic vector representation of this multi-user system may beillustrated as: y=Σ_(k=1) ^(K)S_(k)h_(k)b_(k)+z, wherein S_(k) is adiagonal matrix with the elements of the vector S_(k) on its maindiagonal, and S_(k) is the spreading sequence for the k'th user. Also,h_(k) is the channel for the k'th user, and b_(k) is the informationsymbol of the k'th user. Z refers to noise or error. K is the number ofusers.

The total squared cross-correlation of the spreading sequences is:

T_(c)

Σ_(i,j)|s_(i) ^(H)s_(j)|². The spreading sequences are designed to meetthe Welch-bound with equality (WBE), i.e. T_(c)≥K²/N, and thus

${{\sum\limits_{i,j}{{s_{i}^{H}s_{j}}}^{2}} = {K^{2}\text{/}N}},$

wherein N is the length of the spreading sequence, i, j are indexes ofthe user.

With such design metric, applicable spreading sequence may be chose assignature for the transmission, so as to improve the usage of the sametransmission resources. The number of the users in a communicationsystem may be improved.

FIG. 4 is exemplary flow chart showing a method for multiple accesstransmission by a transmitter according to embodiments of the presentdisclosure.

As shown in FIG. 4, the method includes: S401, determining a firstsignature allocated to a first transmission of a block of data; andS402, determining a second signature allocated to a second transmissionof a block of data.

Table 1 shows a plurality of transmissions TX1, TX2, TX3, and TX4 withdifferent signature S0, S1, S2, S3. This is, the signature may hop eachtime.

TABLE 1 TX1 TX2 TX3 TX4 S0 S1 S2 S3

With the hopping of the signature (namely, usage of different signaturesfor different transmissions), the diversity gain for the transmission isimproved. Namely, it will be easier to distinguish different signalsfrom different transmitter. In particular, even if two transmitterselect two similar signatures at the same time such that transmissionsfrom the two transmitter fail, it will be very hard for the signaturesof re-transmissions for the two failed transmission to be similar. Thesuccessful rate of transmission in the communication system will beimproved. More users may be served by the network.

FIG. 5 is exemplary flow chart showing other exemplary steps of themethod in FIG. 4.

Without limitation, the first transmission may be an initialtransmission, and the second transmission may be another initialtransmission. Or, the first transmission is a re-transmission of aninitial transmission, and the second transmission is anotherre-transmission of the initial transmission. Or, the second transmissionis a re-transmission of the first transmission. The transmission,especially the re-transmission adopts redundancy version of anincremental redundancy.

As shown in FIG. 5, the method further includes: S501, determining afirst redundancy version of an incremental redundancy allocated to thefirst transmission; and S502, determining a second redundancy version ofan incremental redundancy allocated to the second transmission.

Table 2 shows that the plurality of transmissions TX1, TX2, TX3, and TX4have different redundancy versions RV1, RV3, RV2, and RV4. As well asthe hopping of the signature, the redundancy version hops. Thetransmissions will vary more greatly each time. Therefore, thesuccessful rate of transmission in the communication system will befurther improved.

TABLE 2 TX1, RV1 TX2, RV3 TX3, RV2 TX4, RV4 S0 S1 S2 S3

FIG. 6 is another exemplary flow chart showing other exemplary steps ofthe method in FIG. 4. As shown in FIG. 6, the method further includes:S601, determining a first frequency resource allocated to the firsttransmission; and S602, determining a second frequency resourceallocated to the second transmission.

Table 3 shows that the plurality of transmissions TX1, TX2, TX3, and TX4have different frequency resources f1, f2, f3. As well as the hopping ofthe signature, the frequency resource hops. The transmissions will varymore significant each time. Therefore, the successful rate oftransmission in the communication system will be further improved.

TABLE 3 TX1 TX2 TX3 TX4 S0, f1 S1, f2 S2, f3 S3, f1

In embodiments of the present disclosure, the signature may bedetermined based on a transmission policy, or configured by atransmission node. For example, when the transmitter is a UE, apre-stored content of the transmission policy according to acommunication standard, etc., may include a predetermined signature, ora set of signatures. Alternatively, the signature may be configured by anode on network side, such as a base station, of a communication system.

Further, the signature may be determined based on a transmissionparameter, to further increase the flexibility. The transmissionparameter may include at least one of: a frequency, a redundancyversion, and a system frame number. A relationship between the signatureand the transmission parameter may be predefined based on a transmissionpolicy, or configured by a transmission node. It should be understood,transmission parameter may also include any other parameters, withoutany limitation.

The signatures may be received via layer 1 signalling or a higher layersignalling. The layer 1 signalling includes downlink control information(DCI) signalling. Other signalling, such as radio resource control (RRC)signalling, may also be used.

In embodiments of the present disclosure, the signature may be selectedfrom a set of signatures. The signature may be selected randomly. Theset of signatures may be predefined based on a transmission policy, orconfigured by a transmission node. The set of signatures may be receivedvia layer 1 signalling or a higher layer signalling.

Table 4 shows a plurality of UEs with sets of signatures. Different setsof signatures are allocated for different UEs, low probability ofcollisions may be achieved.

TABLE 4 TX1, RV1 TX2, RV3 TX3, RV2 TX4, RV4 UE1 S0 S9 S7 S4 UE2 S1 S6 S3S2 UE3 S6 S8 S2 S5 UE4 S5 S4 S0 S3 . . .

Further, in embodiments of the present disclosure, even for onetransmitter, different sets of signatures are allocated. The firstsignature may be selected from a first set of signatures, while thesecond signature may be selected from a second set of signatures.Particularly, when the second transmission is a re-transmission of thefirst transmission. Since the number of UEs resorting tore-transmissions is progressively smaller than that of UEs performingfirst transmissions, a size of the second set of signatures is smallerthan a size of the first set of signatures, so as to reduce across-correlation metric. The probability of collisions may be furtherreduced.

In embodiments of the present disclosure, the transmitter may beincluded in a group of transmitters. The set of signatures is arrangedfor the group of transmitters. The method for multiple accesstransmission by a transmitter includes: allocating a signature from theset of signatures to a transmission of a block of data, which isdifferent from another signature allocated from the set of signatures byanother transmitter in the group of transmitters, in response to thatthe transmitter shares a transmission resource with the anothertransmitter.

Table 5 shows a plurality of UEs with the same sets of signatures. Thesame sets of signatures are allocated for different UEs, thus the numberof signatures may be reduced. Further, the allocation manner of thesignatures is particularly designed so as to ensure non-collidingsignature allocation at each transmission.

TABLE 5 TX1, RV1 TX2, RV3 TX3, RV2 TX4, RV4 UE1 S0 S1 S2 S3 UE2 S1 S0 S3S2 UE3 S2 S3 S0 S1 UE4 S3 S2 S1 S0

It should be understood the TX of UE means the transmissions both fromand to the UE, namely, there may be one transmitter transmitting data tothe plurality of UEs in table 5 at the same time. In this embodiment,the transmitter is configured to communicate with a group of receivers.The set of signatures is arranged for the group of receivers. The methodfor multiple access transmission by a transmitter includes: allocating asignature from the set of signatures to a transmission of a block ofdata to for receiver in the group of receivers, which is different fromanother signature in the set of signatures allocated for anotherreceiver in the group of receivers, in response to that the receivershares a transmission resource with the another receiver.

For the group of the transmitters, the frequency resource may also hop.Table 6 shows a plurality of UEs with the same sets of signatures andhopping frequency. In the example of table 6 below, in 4 transmissionsof the same transport block (transmission and retransmissions) UEs usedifferent signatures as well as different frequency resources.

TABLE 6 TX1, RV1 TX2, RV3 TX3, RV2 TX4, RV4 UE1 S0, f1 S1, f2 S2, f3 S3,f1 UE2 S1, f1 S0, f3 S3, f2 S2, f2 UE3 S2, f1 S3, f2 S0, f3 S1, f3 UE4S3, f1 S2, f3 S1, f2 S0, f2

However, when applying different frequency, the signatures can be thesame, which can be for example shown in table 7 below.

TABLE 7 TX1, RV1 TX2, RV3 TX3, RV2 TX4, RV4 UE1 S0, f1 S1, f2 S2, f3 S3,f1 UE2 S1, f1 S0, f3 S3, f2 S2, f2 UE3 S2, f1 S3, f2 S0, f3 S1, f3 UE4S3, f1 S2, f3 S1, f2 S0, f2

As other examples, the frequency hopping parameter can depend on thesignature which is used in a transmission, e.g. signature S0 may bealways with frequency f0, and so on.

In the embodiments, the signatures can be also determined by otherparameters, such as the time domain value of system frame number (SFN)mod 4 (if the available signature set size is 4). S0 may correspond toSFN0, S1 may correspond to SFN1, S2 may correspond to SFN2, and S3 maycorrespond to SFN3.

Alternatively, the signature index for RVn for user k may be determinedas S(k, n)=F (S(k,1), n) where F is a pre-determined non-linear functionof n. The function means when a signature S(k, 1) for the user k withRV1 is determined, the signature S(k, n) for the user k with RVn isdetermined based on function F, S(k,1), and n.

FIG. 7 is a block diagram showing an apparatus in accordance with someembodiments.

A second aspect of the present disclosure provides an apparatus formultiple access transmission. As shown in FIG. 7, the apparatus 700include: a processor 701; and a memory 702 containing instructionsexecutable by the processor. The apparatus 700 is operative to themethod described above.

In FIG. 7, the processor 701 may be any kind of processing component,such as one or more microprocessor or microcontrollers, as well as otherdigital hardware, which may include digital signal processors (DSPs),special-purpose digital logic, and the like. The memory 702 may be anykind of storage component, such as read-only memory (ROM), random-accessmemory, cache memory, flash memory devices, optical storage devices,etc.

FIG. 8 is a schematic showing virtualization apparatus for thetransmitter in accordance with some embodiments.

A virtual apparatus 800 may perform the methods as shown in the FIGS. 4,5, 6. As an example shown in FIG. 8, the virtual apparatus 800 formobile switching node includes a determination unit 801, and acommunication unit 802. Taking the method in FIG. 4 as an example,determination unit 801 may perform steps S401, S402.

With virtual apparatus 800, the transmitter, such as a branch/layer ofthe UE, may not need fixed processor or memory, any computing resourceand storage resource may be arranged. The introduction of virtualizationtechnology may improve the usage efficiency of the transmissionresources and the flexibility of the transmitter.

The term unit may have conventional meaning in the field of electronics,electrical devices and/or electronic devices and may include, forexample, electrical and/or electronic circuitry, devices, modules,processors, memories, logic solid state and/or discrete devices,computer programs or instructions for carrying out respective tasks,procedures, computations, outputs, and/or displaying functions, and soon, as such as those that are described herein.

FIG. 9 is a schematic showing computer readable storage medium inaccordance with some embodiments.

A third aspect of the present disclosure provides a computer readablestorage medium. As shown in FIG. 9, the computer readable storage medium900 has a computer program 901 stored thereon, the computer program 901is executable by a device to cause the device to carry out the methoddescribed above.

Further, embodiments of the specific wireless device (UE), base station,and communication system are further illustrated below with FIGS. 10 to18.

FIG. 10 is a schematic showing a wireless network in accordance withsome embodiments.

Although the subject matter described herein may be implemented in anyappropriate type of system using any suitable components, theembodiments disclosed herein are described in relation to a wirelessnetwork, such as the example wireless network illustrated in FIG. 10.For simplicity, the wireless network of FIG. 10 only depicts network1006, network nodes 1060 and 1060 b, and WDs 1010, 1010 b, and 1010 c.In practice, a wireless network may further include any additionalelements suitable to support communication between wireless devices orbetween a wireless device and another communication device, such as alandline telephone, a service provider, or any other network node or enddevice. Of the illustrated components, network node 1060 and wirelessdevice (WD) 1010 are depicted with additional detail. The wirelessnetwork may provide communication and other types of services to one ormore wireless devices to facilitate the wireless devices' access toand/or use of the services provided by, or via, the wireless network.

The wireless network may comprise and/or interface with any type ofcommunication, telecommunication, data, cellular, and/or radio networkor other similar type of system. In some embodiments, the wirelessnetwork may be configured to operate according to specific standards orother types of predefined rules or procedures. Thus, particularembodiments of the wireless network may implement communicationstandards, such as Global System for Mobile Communications (GSM),Universal Mobile Telecommunications System (UMTS), Long Term Evolution(LTE), and/or other suitable 2G, 3G, 4G, or 5G standards; wireless localarea network (WLAN) standards, such as the IEEE 802.11 standards; and/orany other appropriate wireless communication standard, such as theWorldwide Interoperability for Microwave Access (WiMax), Bluetooth,Z-Wave and/or ZigBee standards.

Network 1006 may comprise one or more backhaul networks, core networks,IP networks, public switched telephone networks (PSTNs), packet datanetworks, optical networks, wide-area networks (WANs), local areanetworks (LANs), wireless local area networks (WLANs), wired networks,wireless networks, metropolitan area networks, and other networks toenable communication between devices.

Network node 1060 and WD 1010 comprise various components described inmore detail below. These components work together in order to providenetwork node and/or wireless device functionality, such as providingwireless connections in a wireless network. In different embodiments,the wireless network may comprise any number of wired or wirelessnetworks, network nodes, base stations, controllers, wireless devices,relay stations, and/or any other components or systems that mayfacilitate or participate in the communication of data and/or signalswhether via wired or wireless connections.

As used herein, network node refers to equipment capable, configured,arranged and/or operable to communicate directly or indirectly with awireless device and/or with other network nodes or equipment in thewireless network to enable and/or provide wireless access to thewireless device and/or to perform other functions (e.g., administration)in the wireless network. Examples of network nodes include, but are notlimited to, access points (APs) (e.g., radio access points), basestations (BSs) (e.g., radio base stations, Node Bs, evolved Node Bs(eNBs) and NR NodeBs (gNBs)). Base stations may be categorized based onthe amount of coverage they provide (or, stated differently, theirtransmit power level) and may then also be referred to as femto basestations, pico base stations, micro base stations, or macro basestations. A base station may be a relay node or a relay donor nodecontrolling a relay. A network node may also include one or more (orall) parts of a distributed radio base station such as centralizeddigital units and/or remote radio units (RRUs), sometimes referred to asRemote Radio Heads (RRHs). Such remote radio units may or may not beintegrated with an antenna as an antenna integrated radio. Parts of adistributed radio base station may also be referred to as nodes in adistributed antenna system (DAS). Yet further examples of network nodesinclude multi-standard radio (MSR) equipment such as MSR BSs, networkcontrollers such as radio network controllers (RNCs) or base stationcontrollers (BSCs), base transceiver stations (BTSs), transmissionpoints, transmission nodes, multi-cell/multicast coordination entities(MCEs), core network nodes (e.g., MSCs, MMEs), O&M nodes, OSS nodes, SONnodes, positioning nodes (e.g., E-SMLCs), and/or MDTs. As anotherexample, a network node may be a virtual network node as described inmore detail below. More generally, however, network nodes may representany suitable device (or group of devices) capable, configured, arranged,and/or operable to enable and/or provide a wireless device with accessto the wireless network or to provide some service to a wireless devicethat has accessed the wireless network.

In FIG. 10, network node 1060 includes processing circuitry 1070, devicereadable medium 1080, interface 1090, auxiliary equipment 1084, powersource 1086, power circuitry 1087, and antenna 1062. Although networknode 1060 illustrated in the example wireless network of FIG. 10 mayrepresent a device that includes the illustrated combination of hardwarecomponents, other embodiments may comprise network nodes with differentcombinations of components. It is to be understood that a network nodecomprises any suitable combination of hardware and/or software needed toperform the tasks, features, functions and methods disclosed herein.Moreover, while the components of network node 1060 are depicted assingle boxes located within a larger box, or nested within multipleboxes, in practice, a network node may comprise multiple differentphysical components that make up a single illustrated component (e.g.,device readable medium 1080 may comprise multiple separate hard drivesas well as multiple RAM modules).

Similarly, network node 1060 may be composed of multiple physicallyseparate components (e.g., a NodeB component and a RNC component, or aBTS component and a BSC component, etc.), which may each have their ownrespective components. In certain scenarios in which network node 1060comprises multiple separate components (e.g., BTS and BSC components),one or more of the separate components may be shared among severalnetwork nodes. For example, a single RNC may control multiple NodeB's.In such a scenario, each unique NodeB and RNC pair, may in someinstances be considered a single separate network node. In someembodiments, network node 1060 may be configured to support multipleradio access technologies (RATs). In such embodiments, some componentsmay be duplicated (e.g., separate device readable medium 1080 for thedifferent RATs) and some components may be reused (e.g., the sameantenna 1062 may be shared by the RATs). Network node 1060 may alsoinclude multiple sets of the various illustrated components fordifferent wireless technologies integrated into network node 1060, suchas, for example, GSM, WCDMA, LTE, NR, WiFi, or Bluetooth wirelesstechnologies. These wireless technologies may be integrated into thesame or different chip or set of chips and other components withinnetwork node 1060.

Processing circuitry 1070 is configured to perform any determining,calculating, or similar operations (e.g., certain obtaining operations)described herein as being provided by a network node. These operationsperformed by processing circuitry 1070 may include processinginformation obtained by processing circuitry 1070 by, for example,converting the obtained information into other information, comparingthe obtained information or converted information to information storedin the network node, and/or performing one or more operations based onthe obtained information or converted information, and as a result ofsaid processing making a determination.

Processing circuitry 1070 may comprise a combination of one or more of amicroprocessor, controller, microcontroller, central processing unit,digital signal processor, application-specific integrated circuit, fieldprogrammable gate array, or any other suitable computing device,resource, or combination of hardware, software and/or encoded logicoperable to provide, either alone or in conjunction with other networknode 1060 components, such as device readable medium 1080, network node1060 functionality. For example, processing circuitry 1070 may executeinstructions stored in device readable medium 1080 or in memory withinprocessing circuitry 1070. Such functionality may include providing anyof the various wireless features, functions, or benefits discussedherein. In some embodiments, processing circuitry 1070 may include asystem on a chip (SOC).

In some embodiments, processing circuitry 1070 may include one or moreof radio frequency (RF) transceiver circuitry 1072 and basebandprocessing circuitry 1074. In some embodiments, radio frequency (RF)transceiver circuitry 1072 and baseband processing circuitry 1074 may beon separate chips (or sets of chips), boards, or units, such as radiounits and digital units. In alternative embodiments, part or all of RFtransceiver circuitry 1072 and baseband processing circuitry 1074 may beon the same chip or set of chips, boards, or units

In certain embodiments, some or all of the functionality describedherein as being provided by a network node, base station, eNB or othersuch network device may be performed by processing circuitry 1070executing instructions stored on device readable medium 1080 or memorywithin processing circuitry 1070. In alternative embodiments, some orall of the functionality may be provided by processing circuitry 1070without executing instructions stored on a separate or discrete devicereadable medium, such as in a hard-wired manner. In any of thoseembodiments, whether executing instructions stored on a device readablestorage medium or not, processing circuitry 1070 can be configured toperform the described functionality. The benefits provided by suchfunctionality are not limited to processing circuitry 1070 alone or toother components of network node 1060, but are enjoyed by network node1060 as a whole, and/or by end users and the wireless network generally.

Device readable medium 1080 may comprise any form of volatile ornon-volatile computer readable memory including, without limitation,persistent storage, solid-state memory, remotely mounted memory,magnetic media, optical media, random access memory (RAM), read-onlymemory (ROM), mass storage media (for example, a hard disk), removablestorage media (for example, a flash drive, a Compact Disk (CD) or aDigital Video Disk (DVD)), and/or any other volatile or non-volatile,non-transitory device readable and/or computer-executable memory devicesthat store information, data, and/or instructions that may be used byprocessing circuitry 1070. Device readable medium 1080 may store anysuitable instructions, data or information, including a computerprogram, software, an application including one or more of logic, rules,code, tables, etc. and/or other instructions capable of being executedby processing circuitry 1070 and, utilized by network node 1060. Devicereadable medium 1080 may be used to store any calculations made byprocessing circuitry 1070 and/or any data received via interface 1090.In some embodiments, processing circuitry 1070 and device readablemedium 1080 may be considered to be integrated.

Interface 1090 is used in the wired or wireless communication ofsignalling and/or data between network node 1060, network 1006, and/orWDs 1010. As illustrated, interface 1090 comprises port(s)/terminal(s)1094 to send and receive data, for example to and from network 1006 overa wired connection. Interface 1090 also includes radio front endcircuitry 1092 that may be coupled to, or in certain embodiments a partof, antenna 1062. Radio front end circuitry 1092 comprises filters 1098and amplifiers 1096. Radio front end circuitry 1092 may be connected toantenna 1062 and processing circuitry 1070. Radio front end circuitrymay be configured to condition signals communicated between antenna 1062and processing circuitry 1070. Radio front end circuitry 1092 mayreceive digital data that is to be sent out to other network nodes orWDs via a wireless connection. Radio front end circuitry 1092 mayconvert the digital data into a radio signal having the appropriatechannel and bandwidth parameters using a combination of filters 1098and/or amplifiers 1096. The radio signal may then be transmitted viaantenna 1062. Similarly, when receiving data, antenna 1062 may collectradio signals which are then converted into digital data by radio frontend circuitry 1092. The digital data may be passed to processingcircuitry 1070. In other embodiments, the interface may comprisedifferent components and/or different combinations of components.

In certain alternative embodiments, network node 1060 may not includeseparate radio front end circuitry 1092, instead, processing circuitry1070 may comprise radio front end circuitry and may be connected toantenna 1062 without separate radio front end circuitry 1092. Similarly,in some embodiments, all or some of RF transceiver circuitry 1072 may beconsidered a part of interface 1090. In still other embodiments,interface 1090 may include one or more ports or terminals 1094, radiofront end circuitry 1092, and RF transceiver circuitry 1072, as part ofa radio unit (not shown), and interface 1090 may communicate withbaseband processing circuitry 1074, which is part of a digital unit (notshown).

Antenna 1062 may include one or more antennas, or antenna arrays,configured to send and/or receive wireless signals. Antenna 1062 may becoupled to radio front end circuitry 1090 and may be any type of antennacapable of transmitting and receiving data and/or signals wirelessly. Insome embodiments, antenna 1062 may comprise one or moreomni-directional, sector or panel antennas operable to transmit/receiveradio signals between, for example, 2 GHz and 66 GHz. Anomni-directional antenna may be used to transmit/receive radio signalsin any direction, a sector antenna may be used to transmit/receive radiosignals from devices within a particular area, and a panel antenna maybe a line of sight antenna used to transmit/receive radio signals in arelatively straight line. In some instances, the use of more than oneantenna may be referred to as MIMO. In certain embodiments, antenna 1062may be separate from network node 1060 and may be connectable to networknode 1060 through an interface or port.

Antenna 1062, interface 1090, and/or processing circuitry 1070 may beconfigured to perform any receiving operations and/or certain obtainingoperations described herein as being performed by a network node. Anyinformation, data and/or signals may be received from a wireless device,another network node and/or any other network equipment. Similarly,antenna 1062, interface 1090, and/or processing circuitry 1070 may beconfigured to perform any transmitting operations described herein asbeing performed by a network node. Any information, data and/or signalsmay be transmitted to a wireless device, another network node and/or anyother network equipment.

Power circuitry 1087 may comprise, or be coupled to, power managementcircuitry and is configured to supply the components of network node1060 with power for performing the functionality described herein. Powercircuitry 1087 may receive power from power source 1086. Power source1086 and/or power circuitry 1087 may be configured to provide power tothe various components of network node 1060 in a form suitable for therespective components (e.g., at a voltage and current level needed foreach respective component). Power source 1086 may either be included in,or external to, power circuitry 1087 and/or network node 1060. Forexample, network node 1060 may be connectable to an external powersource (e.g., an electricity outlet) via an input circuitry or interfacesuch as an electrical cable, whereby the external power source suppliespower to power circuitry 1087. As a further example, power source 1086may comprise a source of power in the form of a battery or battery packwhich is connected to, or integrated in, power circuitry 1087. Thebattery may provide backup power should the external power source fail.Other types of power sources, such as photovoltaic devices, may also beused.

Alternative embodiments of network node 1060 may include additionalcomponents beyond those shown in FIG. 10 that may be responsible forproviding certain aspects of the network node's functionality, includingany of the functionality described herein and/or any functionalitynecessary to support the subject matter described herein. For example,network node 1060 may include user interface equipment to allow input ofinformation into network node 1060 and to allow output of informationfrom network node 1060. This may allow a user to perform diagnostic,maintenance, repair, and other administrative functions for network node1060.

As used herein, wireless device (WD) refers to a device capable,configured, arranged and/or operable to communicate wirelessly withnetwork nodes and/or other wireless devices. Unless otherwise noted, theterm WD may be used interchangeably herein with user equipment (UE).Communicating wirelessly may involve transmitting and/or receivingwireless signals using electromagnetic waves, radio waves, infraredwaves, and/or other types of signals suitable for conveying informationthrough air. In some embodiments, a WD may be configured to transmitand/or receive information without direct human interaction. Forinstance, a WD may be designed to transmit information to a network on apredetermined schedule, when triggered by an internal or external event,or in response to requests from the network. Examples of a WD include,but are not limited to, a smart phone, a mobile phone, a cell phone, avoice over IP (VoIP) phone, a wireless local loop phone, a desktopcomputer, a personal digital assistant (PDA), a wireless cameras, agaming console or device, a music storage device, a playback appliance,a wearable terminal device, a wireless endpoint, a mobile station, atablet, a laptop, a laptop-embedded equipment (LEE), a laptop-mountedequipment (LME), a smart device, a wireless customer-premise equipment(CPE), a vehicle-mounted wireless terminal device, etc. A WD may supportdevice-to-device (D2D) communication, for example by implementing a 3GPPstandard for sidelink communication, vehicle-to-vehicle (V2V),vehicle-to-infrastructure (V2I), vehicle-to-everything (V2X) and may inthis case be referred to as a D2D communication device. As yet anotherspecific example, in an Internet of Things (IoT) scenario, a WD mayrepresent a machine or other device that performs monitoring and/ormeasurements, and transmits the results of such monitoring and/ormeasurements to another WD and/or a network node. The WD may in thiscase be a machine-to-machine (M2M) device, which may in a 3GPP contextbe referred to as an MTC device. As one particular example, the WD maybe a UE implementing the 3GPP narrow band internet of things (NB-IoT)standard. Particular examples of such machines or devices are sensors,metering devices such as power meters, industrial machinery, or home orpersonal appliances (e.g. refrigerators, televisions, etc.) personalwearables (e.g., watches, fitness trackers, etc.). In other scenarios, aWD may represent a vehicle or other equipment that is capable ofmonitoring and/or reporting on its operational status or other functionsassociated with its operation. A WD as described above may represent theendpoint of a wireless connection, in which case the device may bereferred to as a wireless terminal. Furthermore, a WD as described abovemay be mobile, in which case it may also be referred to as a mobiledevice or a mobile terminal.

As illustrated, wireless device 1010 includes antenna 1011, interface1014, processing circuitry 1020, device readable medium 1030, userinterface equipment 1032, auxiliary equipment 1034, power source 1036and power circuitry 1037. WD 1010 may include multiple sets of one ormore of the illustrated components for different wireless technologiessupported by WD 1010, such as, for example, GSM, WCDMA, LTE, NR, WiFi,WiMAX, or Bluetooth wireless technologies, just to mention a few. Thesewireless technologies may be integrated into the same or different chipsor set of chips as other components within WD 1010.

Antenna 1011 may include one or more antennas or antenna arrays,configured to send and/or receive wireless signals, and is connected tointerface 1014. In certain alternative embodiments, antenna 1011 may beseparate from WD 1010 and be connectable to WD 1010 through an interfaceor port. Antenna 1011, interface 1014, and/or processing circuitry 1020may be configured to perform any receiving or transmitting operationsdescribed herein as being performed by a WD. Any information, dataand/or signals may be received from a network node and/or another WD. Insome embodiments, radio front end circuitry and/or antenna 1011 may beconsidered an interface.

As illustrated, interface 1014 comprises radio front end circuitry 1012and antenna 1011. Radio front end circuitry 1012 comprise one or morefilters 1018 and amplifiers 1016. Radio front end circuitry 1014 isconnected to antenna 1011 and processing circuitry 1020, and isconfigured to condition signals communicated between antenna 1011 andprocessing circuitry 1020. Radio front end circuitry 1012 may be coupledto or a part of antenna 1011. In some embodiments, WD 1010 may notinclude separate radio front end circuitry 1012; rather, processingcircuitry 1020 may comprise radio front end circuitry and may beconnected to antenna 1011. Similarly, in some embodiments, some or allof RF transceiver circuitry 1022 may be considered a part of interface1014. Radio front end circuitry 1012 may receive digital data that is tobe sent out to other network nodes or WDs via a wireless connection.Radio front end circuitry 1012 may convert the digital data into a radiosignal having the appropriate channel and bandwidth parameters using acombination of filters 1018 and/or amplifiers 1016. The radio signal maythen be transmitted via antenna 1011. Similarly, when receiving data,antenna 1011 may collect radio signals which are then converted intodigital data by radio front end circuitry 1012. The digital data may bepassed to processing circuitry 1020. In other embodiments, the interfacemay comprise different components and/or different combinations ofcomponents.

Processing circuitry 1020 may comprise a combination of one or more of amicroprocessor, controller, microcontroller, central processing unit,digital signal processor, application-specific integrated circuit, fieldprogrammable gate array, or any other suitable computing device,resource, or combination of hardware, software, and/or encoded logicoperable to provide, either alone or in conjunction with other WD 1010components, such as device readable medium 1030, WD 1010 functionality.Such functionality may include providing any of the various wirelessfeatures or benefits discussed herein. For example, processing circuitry1020 may execute instructions stored in device readable medium 1030 orin memory within processing circuitry 1020 to provide the functionalitydisclosed herein.

As illustrated, processing circuitry 1020 includes one or more of RFtransceiver circuitry 1022, baseband processing circuitry 1024, andapplication processing circuitry 1026. In other embodiments, theprocessing circuitry may comprise different components and/or differentcombinations of components. In certain embodiments processing circuitry1020 of WD 1010 may comprise a SOC. In some embodiments, RF transceivercircuitry 1022, baseband processing circuitry 1024, and applicationprocessing circuitry 1026 may be on separate chips or sets of chips. Inalternative embodiments, part or all of baseband processing circuitry1024 and application processing circuitry 1026 may be combined into onechip or set of chips, and RF transceiver circuitry 1022 may be on aseparate chip or set of chips. In still alternative embodiments, part orall of RF transceiver circuitry 1022 and baseband processing circuitry1024 may be on the same chip or set of chips, and application processingcircuitry 1026 may be on a separate chip or set of chips. In yet otheralternative embodiments, part or all of RF transceiver circuitry 1022,baseband processing circuitry 1024, and application processing circuitry1026 may be combined in the same chip or set of chips. In someembodiments, RF transceiver circuitry 1022 may be a part of interface1014. RF transceiver circuitry 1022 may condition RF signals forprocessing circuitry 1020.

In certain embodiments, some or all of the functionality describedherein as being performed by a WD may be provided by processingcircuitry 1020 executing instructions stored on device readable medium1030, which in certain embodiments may be a computer-readable storagemedium. In alternative embodiments, some or all of the functionality maybe provided by processing circuitry 1020 without executing instructionsstored on a separate or discrete device readable storage medium, such asin a hard-wired manner. In any of those particular embodiments, whetherexecuting instructions stored on a device readable storage medium ornot, processing circuitry 1020 can be configured to perform thedescribed functionality. The benefits provided by such functionality arenot limited to processing circuitry 1020 alone or to other components ofWD 1010, but are enjoyed by WD 1010 as a whole, and/or by end users andthe wireless network generally.

Processing circuitry 1020 may be configured to perform any determining,calculating, or similar operations (e.g., certain obtaining operations)described herein as being performed by a WD. These operations, asperformed by processing circuitry 1020, may include processinginformation obtained by processing circuitry 1020 by, for example,converting the obtained information into other information, comparingthe obtained information or converted information to information storedby WD 1010, and/or performing one or more operations based on theobtained information or converted information, and as a result of saidprocessing making a determination.

Device readable medium 1030 may be operable to store a computer program,software, an application including one or more of logic, rules, code,tables, etc. and/or other instructions capable of being executed byprocessing circuitry 1020. Device readable medium 1030 may includecomputer memory (e.g., Random Access Memory (RAM) or Read Only Memory(ROM)), mass storage media (e.g., a hard disk), removable storage media(e.g., a Compact Disk (CD) or a Digital Video Disk (DVD)), and/or anyother volatile or non-volatile, non-transitory device readable and/orcomputer executable memory devices that store information, data, and/orinstructions that may be used by processing circuitry 1020. In someembodiments, processing circuitry 1020 and device readable medium 1030may be considered to be integrated.

User interface equipment 1032 may provide components that allow for ahuman user to interact with WD 1010. Such interaction may be of manyforms, such as visual, audial, tactile, etc. User interface equipment1032 may be operable to produce output to the user and to allow the userto provide input to WD 1010. The type of interaction may vary dependingon the type of user interface equipment 1032 installed in WD 1010. Forexample, if WD 1010 is a smart phone, the interaction may be via a touchscreen; if WD 1010 is a smart meter, the interaction may be through ascreen that provides usage (e.g., the number of gallons used) or aspeaker that provides an audible alert (e.g., if smoke is detected).User interface equipment 1032 may include input interfaces, devices andcircuits, and output interfaces, devices and circuits. User interfaceequipment 1032 is configured to allow input of information into WD 1010,and is connected to processing circuitry 1020 to allow processingcircuitry 1020 to process the input information. User interfaceequipment 1032 may include, for example, a microphone, a proximity orother sensor, keys/buttons, a touch display, one or more cameras, a USBport, or other input circuitry. User interface equipment 1032 is alsoconfigured to allow output of information from WD 1010, and to allowprocessing circuitry 1020 to output information from WD 1010. Userinterface equipment 1032 may include, for example, a speaker, a display,vibrating circuitry, a USB port, a headphone interface, or other outputcircuitry. Using one or more input and output interfaces, devices, andcircuits, of user interface equipment 1032, WD 1010 may communicate withend users and/or the wireless network, and allow them to benefit fromthe functionality described herein.

Auxiliary equipment 1034 is operable to provide more specificfunctionality which may not be generally performed by WDs. This maycomprise specialized sensors for doing measurements for variouspurposes, interfaces for additional types of communication such as wiredcommunications etc. The inclusion and type of components of auxiliaryequipment 1034 may vary depending on the embodiment and/or scenario.

Power source 1036 may, in some embodiments, be in the form of a batteryor battery pack. Other types of power sources, such as an external powersource (e.g., an electricity outlet), photovoltaic devices or powercells, may also be used. WD 1010 may further comprise power circuitry1037 for delivering power from power source 1036 to the various parts ofWD 1010 which need power from power source 1036 to carry out anyfunctionality described or indicated herein. Power circuitry 1037 may incertain embodiments comprise power management circuitry. Power circuitry1037 may additionally or alternatively be operable to receive power froman external power source; in which case WD 1010 may be connectable tothe external power source (such as an electricity outlet) via inputcircuitry or an interface such as an electrical power cable. Powercircuitry 1037 may also in certain embodiments be operable to deliverpower from an external power source to power source 1036. This may be,for example, for the charging of power source 1036. Power circuitry 1037may perform any formatting, converting, or other modification to thepower from power source 1036 to make the power suitable for therespective components of WD 1010 to which power is supplied.

FIG. 11 is a schematic showing a user equipment in accordance with someembodiments.

FIG. 11 illustrates one embodiment of a UE in accordance with variousaspects described herein. As used herein, a user equipment or UE may notnecessarily have a user in the sense of a human user who owns and/oroperates the relevant device. Instead, a UE may represent a device thatis intended for sale to, or operation by, a human user but which maynot, or which may not initially, be associated with a specific humanuser (e.g., a smart sprinkler controller). Alternatively, a UE mayrepresent a device that is not intended for sale to, or operation by, anend user but which may be associated with or operated for the benefit ofa user (e.g., a smart power meter). UE 1100 may be any UE identified bythe 3^(rd) Generation Partnership Project (3GPP), including a NB-IoT UE,a machine type communication (MTC) UE, and/or an enhanced MTC (eMTC) UE.UE 1100, as illustrated in FIG. 11, is one example of a WD configuredfor communication in accordance with one or more communication standardspromulgated by the 3^(rd) Generation Partnership Project (3GPP), such as3GPP's GSM, UMTS, LTE, and/or 5G standards. As mentioned previously, theterm WD and UE may be used interchangeable. Accordingly, although FIG.11 is a UE, the components discussed herein are equally applicable to aWD, and vice-versa.

In FIG. 11, UE 1100 includes processing circuitry 1101 that isoperatively coupled to input/output interface 1105, radio frequency (RF)interface 1109, network connection interface 1111, memory 1115 includingrandom access memory (RAM) 1117, read-only memory (ROM) 1119, andstorage medium 1121 or the like, communication subsystem 1131, powersource 1133, and/or any other component, or any combination thereof.Storage medium 1121 includes operating system 1123, application program1125, and data 1127. In other embodiments, storage medium 1121 mayinclude other similar types of information. Certain UEs may utilize allof the components shown in FIG. 11, or only a subset of the components.The level of integration between the components may vary from one UE toanother UE. Further, certain UEs may contain multiple instances of acomponent, such as multiple processors, memories, transceivers,transmitters, receivers, etc.

In FIG. 11, processing circuitry 1101 may be configured to processcomputer instructions and data. Processing circuitry 1101 may beconfigured to implement any sequential state machine operative toexecute machine instructions stored as machine-readable computerprograms in the memory, such as one or more hardware-implemented statemachines (e.g., in discrete logic, FPGA, ASIC, etc.); programmable logictogether with appropriate firmware; one or more stored program,general-purpose processors, such as a microprocessor or Digital SignalProcessor (DSP), together with appropriate software; or any combinationof the above. For example, the processing circuitry 1101 may include twocentral processing units (CPUs). Data may be information in a formsuitable for use by a computer.

In the depicted embodiment, input/output interface 1105 may beconfigured to provide a communication interface to an input device,output device, or input and output device. UE 1100 may be configured touse an output device via input/output interface 1105. An output devicemay use the same type of interface port as an input device. For example,a USB port may be used to provide input to and output from UE 1100. Theoutput device may be a speaker, a sound card, a video card, a display, amonitor, a printer, an actuator, an emitter, a smartcard, another outputdevice, or any combination thereof. UE 1100 may be configured to use aninput device via input/output interface 1105 to allow a user to captureinformation into UE 1100. The input device may include a touch-sensitiveor presence-sensitive display, a camera (e.g., a digital camera, adigital video camera, a web camera, etc.), a microphone, a sensor, amouse, a trackball, a directional pad, a trackpad, a scroll wheel, asmartcard, and the like. The presence-sensitive display may include acapacitive or resistive touch sensor to sense input from a user. Asensor may be, for instance, an accelerometer, a gyroscope, a tiltsensor, a force sensor, a magnetometer, an optical sensor, a proximitysensor, another like sensor, or any combination thereof. For example,the input device may be an accelerometer, a magnetometer, a digitalcamera, a microphone, and an optical sensor.

In FIG. 11, RF interface 1109 may be configured to provide acommunication interface to RF components such as a transmitter, areceiver, and an antenna. Network connection interface 1111 may beconfigured to provide a communication interface to network 1143 a.Network 1143 a may encompass wired and/or wireless networks such as alocal-area network (LAN), a wide-area network (WAN), a computer network,a wireless network, a telecommunications network, another like networkor any combination thereof. For example, network 1143 a may comprise aWi-Fi network. Network connection interface 1111 may be configured toinclude a receiver and a transmitter interface used to communicate withone or more other devices over a communication network according to oneor more communication protocols, such as Ethernet, TCP/IP, SONET, ATM,or the like. Network connection interface 1111 may implement receiverand transmitter functionality appropriate to the communication networklinks (e.g., optical, electrical, and the like). The transmitter andreceiver functions may share circuit components, software or firmware,or alternatively may be implemented separately.

RAM 1117 may be configured to interface via bus 1102 to processingcircuitry 1101 to provide storage or caching of data or computerinstructions during the execution of software programs such as theoperating system, application programs, and device drivers. ROM 1119 maybe configured to provide computer instructions or data to processingcircuitry 1101. For example, ROM 1119 may be configured to storeinvariant low-level system code or data for basic system functions suchas basic input and output (I/O), startup, or reception of keystrokesfrom a keyboard that are stored in a non-volatile memory. Storage medium1121 may be configured to include memory such as RAM, ROM, programmableread-only memory (PROM), erasable programmable read-only memory (EPROM),electrically erasable programmable read-only memory (EEPROM), magneticdisks, optical disks, floppy disks, hard disks, removable cartridges, orflash drives. In one example, storage medium 1121 may be configured toinclude operating system 1123, application program 1125 such as a webbrowser application, a widget or gadget engine or another application,and data file 1127. Storage medium 1121 may store, for use by UE 1100,any of a variety of various operating systems or combinations ofoperating systems.

Storage medium 1121 may be configured to include a number of physicaldrive units, such as redundant array of independent disks (RAID), floppydisk drive, flash memory, USB flash drive, external hard disk drive,thumb drive, pen drive, key drive, high-density digital versatile disc(HD-DVD) optical disc drive, internal hard disk drive, Blu-Ray opticaldisc drive, holographic digital data storage (HDDS) optical disc drive,external mini-dual in-line memory module (DIMM), synchronous dynamicrandom access memory (SDRAM), external micro-DIMM SDRAM, smartcardmemory such as a subscriber identity module or a removable user identity(SIM/RUIM) module, other memory, or any combination thereof. Storagemedium 1121 may allow UE 1100 to access computer-executableinstructions, application programs or the like, stored on transitory ornon-transitory memory media, to off-load data, or to upload data. Anarticle of manufacture, such as one utilizing a communication system maybe tangibly embodied in storage medium 1121, which may comprise a devicereadable medium.

In FIG. 11, processing circuitry 1101 may be configured to communicatewith network 1143 b using communication subsystem 1131. Network 1143 aand network 1143 b may be the same network or networks or differentnetwork or networks. Communication subsystem 1131 may be configured toinclude one or more transceivers used to communicate with network 1143b. For example, communication subsystem 1131 may be configured toinclude one or more transceivers used to communicate with one or moreremote transceivers of another device capable of wireless communicationsuch as another WD, UE, or base station of a radio access network (RAN)according to one or more communication protocols, such as IEEE 802.11,CDMA, WCDMA, GSM, LTE, UTRAN, WiMax, or the like. Each transceiver mayinclude transmitter 1133 and/or receiver 1135 to implement transmitteror receiver functionality, respectively, appropriate to the RAN links(e.g., frequency allocations and the like). Further, transmitter 1133and receiver 1135 of each transceiver may share circuit components,software or firmware, or alternatively may be implemented separately.

In the illustrated embodiment, the communication functions ofcommunication subsystem 1131 may include data communication, voicecommunication, multimedia communication, short-range communications suchas Bluetooth, near-field communication, location-based communicationsuch as the use of the global positioning system (GPS) to determine alocation, another like communication function, or any combinationthereof. For example, communication subsystem 1131 may include cellularcommunication, Wi-Fi communication, Bluetooth communication, and GPScommunication. Network 1143 b may encompass wired and/or wirelessnetworks such as a local-area network (LAN), a wide-area network (WAN),a computer network, a wireless network, a telecommunications network,another like network or any combination thereof. For example, network1143 b may be a cellular network, a Wi-Fi network, and/or a near-fieldnetwork. Power source 1113 may be configured to provide alternatingcurrent (AC) or direct current (DC) power to components of UE 1100.

The features, benefits and/or functions described herein may beimplemented in one of the components of UE 1100 or partitioned acrossmultiple components of UE 1100. Further, the features, benefits, and/orfunctions described herein may be implemented in any combination ofhardware, software or firmware. In one example, communication subsystem1131 may be configured to include any of the components describedherein. Further, processing circuitry 1101 may be configured tocommunicate with any of such components over bus 1102. In anotherexample, any of such components may be represented by programinstructions stored in memory that when executed by processing circuitry1101 perform the corresponding functions described herein. In anotherexample, the functionality of any of such components may be partitionedbetween processing circuitry 1101 and communication subsystem 1131. Inanother example, the non-computationally intensive functions of any ofsuch components may be implemented in software or firmware and thecomputationally intensive functions may be implemented in hardware.

FIG. 12 is a schematic showing a virtualization environment inaccordance with some embodiments.

FIG. 12 is a schematic block diagram illustrating a virtualizationenvironment 1200 in which functions implemented by some embodiments maybe virtualized. In the present context, virtualizing means creatingvirtual versions of apparatuses or devices which may includevirtualizing hardware platforms, storage devices and networkingresources. As used herein, virtualization can be applied to a node(e.g., a virtualized base station or a virtualized radio access node) orto a device (e.g., a UE, a wireless device or any other type ofcommunication device) or components thereof and relates to animplementation in which at least a portion of the functionality isimplemented as one or more virtual components (e.g., via one or moreapplications, components, functions, virtual machines or containersexecuting on one or more physical processing nodes in one or morenetworks).

In some embodiments, some or all of the functions described herein maybe implemented as virtual components executed by one or more virtualmachines implemented in one or more virtual environments 1200 hosted byone or more of hardware nodes 1230. Further, in embodiments in which thevirtual node is not a radio access node or does not require radioconnectivity (e.g., a core network node), then the network node may beentirely virtualized.

The functions may be implemented by one or more applications 1220 (whichmay alternatively be called software instances, virtual appliances,network functions, virtual nodes, virtual network functions, etc.)operative to implement some of the features, functions, and/or benefitsof some of the embodiments disclosed herein. Applications 1220 are runin virtualization environment 1200 which provides hardware 1230comprising processing circuitry 1260 and memory 1290. Memory 1290contains instructions 1295 executable by processing circuitry 1260whereby application 1220 is operative to provide one or more of thefeatures, benefits, and/or functions disclosed herein.

Virtualization environment 1200, comprises general-purpose orspecial-purpose network hardware devices 1230 comprising a set of one ormore processors or processing circuitry 1260, which may be commercialoff-the-shelf (COTS) processors, dedicated Application SpecificIntegrated Circuits (ASICs), or any other type of processing circuitryincluding digital or analog hardware components or special purposeprocessors. Each hardware device may comprise memory 1290-1 which may benon-persistent memory for temporarily storing instructions 1295 orsoftware executed by processing circuitry 1260. Each hardware device maycomprise one or more network interface controllers (NICs) 1270, alsoknown as network interface cards, which include physical networkinterface 1280. Each hardware device may also include non-transitory,persistent, machine-readable storage media 1290-2 having stored thereinsoftware 1295 and/or instructions executable by processing circuitry1260. Software 1295 may include any type of software including softwarefor instantiating one or more virtualization layers 1250 (also referredto as hypervisors), software to execute virtual machines 1240 as well assoftware allowing it to execute functions, features and/or benefitsdescribed in relation with some embodiments described herein.

Virtual machines 1240, comprise virtual processing, virtual memory,virtual networking or interface and virtual storage, and may be run by acorresponding virtualization layer 1250 or hypervisor. Differentembodiments of the instance of virtual appliance 1220 may be implementedon one or more of virtual machines 1240, and the implementations may bemade in different ways.

During operation, processing circuitry 1260 executes software 1295 toinstantiate the hypervisor or virtualization layer 1250, which maysometimes be referred to as a virtual machine monitor (VMM).Virtualization layer 1250 may present a virtual operating platform thatappears like networking hardware to virtual machine 1240.

As shown in FIG. 12, hardware 1230 may be a standalone network node withgeneric or specific components. Hardware 1230 may comprise antenna 12225and may implement some functions via virtualization. Alternatively,hardware 1230 may be part of a larger cluster of hardware (e.g. such asin a data center or customer premise equipment (CPE)) where manyhardware nodes work together and are managed via management andorchestration (MANO) 12100, which, among others, oversees lifecyclemanagement of applications 1220.

Virtualization of the hardware is in some contexts referred to asnetwork function virtualization (NFV). NFV may be used to consolidatemany network equipment types onto industry standard high volume serverhardware, physical switches, and physical storage, which can be locatedin data centers, and customer premise equipment.

In the context of NFV, virtual machine 1240 may be a softwareimplementation of a physical machine that runs programs as if they wereexecuting on a physical, non-virtualized machine. Each of virtualmachines 1240, and that part of hardware 1230 that executes that virtualmachine, be it hardware dedicated to that virtual machine and/orhardware shared by that virtual machine with others of the virtualmachines 1240, forms a separate virtual network elements (VNE).

Still in the context of NFV, Virtual Network Function (VNF) isresponsible for handling specific network functions that run in one ormore virtual machines 1240 on top of hardware networking infrastructure1230 and corresponds to application 1220 in FIG. 12.

In some embodiments, one or more radio units 12200 that each include oneor more transmitters 12220 and one or more receivers 12210 may becoupled to one or more antennas 12225. Radio units 12200 may communicatedirectly with hardware nodes 1230 via one or more appropriate networkinterfaces and may be used in combination with the virtual components toprovide a virtual node with radio capabilities, such as a radio accessnode or a base station.

In some embodiments, some signalling can be effected with the use ofcontrol system 12230 which may alternatively be used for communicationbetween the hardware nodes 1230 and radio units 12200.

FIG. 13 is a schematic showing a telecommunication network connected viaan intermediate network to a host computer in accordance with someembodiments.

With reference to FIG. 13, in accordance with an embodiment, acommunication system includes telecommunication network 1310, such as a3GPP-type cellular network, which comprises access network 1311, such asa radio access network, and core network 1314. Access network 1311comprises a plurality of base stations 1312 a, 1312 b, 1312 c, such asNBs, eNBs, gNBs or other types of wireless access points, each defininga corresponding coverage area 1313 a, 1313 b, 1313 c. Each base station1312 a, 1312 b, 1312 c is connectable to core network 1314 over a wiredor wireless connection 1315. A first UE 1391 located in coverage area1313 c is configured to wirelessly connect to, or be paged by, thecorresponding base station 1312 c. A second UE 1392 in coverage area1313 a is wirelessly connectable to the corresponding base station 1312a. While a plurality of UEs 1391, 1392 are illustrated in this example,the disclosed embodiments are equally applicable to a situation where asole UE is in the coverage area or where a sole UE is connecting to thecorresponding base station 1312.

Telecommunication network 1310 is itself connected to host computer1330, which may be embodied in the hardware and/or software of astandalone server, a cloud-implemented server, a distributed server oras processing resources in a server farm. Host computer 1330 may beunder the ownership or control of a service provider, or may be operatedby the service provider or on behalf of the service provider.Connections 1321 and 1322 between telecommunication network 1310 andhost computer 1330 may extend directly from core network 1314 to hostcomputer 1330 or may go via an optional intermediate network 1320.Intermediate network 1320 may be one of, or a combination of more thanone of, a public, private or hosted network; intermediate network 1320,if any, may be a backbone network or the Internet; in particular,intermediate network 1320 may comprise two or more sub-networks (notshown).

The communication system of FIG. 13 as a whole enables connectivitybetween the connected UEs 1391, 1392 and host computer 1330. Theconnectivity may be described as an over-the-top (OTT) connection 1350.Host computer 1330 and the connected UEs 1391, 1392 are configured tocommunicate data and/or signaling via OTT connection 1350, using accessnetwork 1311, core network 1314, any intermediate network 1320 andpossible further infrastructure (not shown) as intermediaries. OTTconnection 1350 may be transparent in the sense that the participatingcommunication devices through which OTT connection 1350 passes areunaware of routing of uplink and downlink communications. For example,base station 1312 may not or need not be informed about the past routingof an incoming downlink communication with data originating from hostcomputer 1330 to be forwarded (e.g., handed over) to a connected UE1391. Similarly, base station 1312 need not be aware of the futurerouting of an outgoing uplink communication originating from the UE 1391towards the host computer 1330.

FIG. 14 is a schematic showing a host computer communicating via a basestation with a user equipment over a partially wireless connection inaccordance with some embodiments.

Example implementations, in accordance with an embodiment, of the UE,base station and host computer discussed in the preceding paragraphswill now be described with reference to FIG. 14. In communication system1400, host computer 1410 comprises hardware 1415 including communicationinterface 1416 configured to set up and maintain a wired or wirelessconnection with an interface of a different communication device ofcommunication system 1400. Host computer 1410 further comprisesprocessing circuitry 1418, which may have storage and/or processingcapabilities. In particular, processing circuitry 1418 may comprise oneor more programmable processors, application-specific integratedcircuits, field programmable gate arrays or combinations of these (notshown) adapted to execute instructions. Host computer 1410 furthercomprises software 1411, which is stored in or accessible by hostcomputer 1410 and executable by processing circuitry 1418. Software 1411includes host application 1412. Host application 1412 may be operable toprovide a service to a remote user, such as UE 1430 connecting via OTTconnection 1450 terminating at UE 1430 and host computer 1410. Inproviding the service to the remote user, host application 1412 mayprovide user data which is transmitted using OTT connection 1450.

Communication system 1400 further includes base station 1420 provided ina telecommunication system and comprising hardware 1425 enabling it tocommunicate with host computer 1410 and with UE 1430. Hardware 1425 mayinclude communication interface 1426 for setting up and maintaining awired or wireless connection with an interface of a differentcommunication device of communication system 1400, as well as radiointerface 1427 for setting up and maintaining at least wirelessconnection 1470 with UE 1430 located in a coverage area (not shown inFIG. 14) served by base station 1420. Communication interface 1426 maybe configured to facilitate connection 1460 to host computer 1410.Connection 1460 may be direct or it may pass through a core network (notshown in FIG. 14) of the telecommunication system and/or through one ormore intermediate networks outside the telecommunication system. In theembodiment shown, hardware 1425 of base station 1420 further includesprocessing circuitry 1428, which may comprise one or more programmableprocessors, application-specific integrated circuits, field programmablegate arrays or combinations of these (not shown) adapted to executeinstructions. Base station 1420 further has software 1421 storedinternally or accessible via an external connection.

Communication system 1400 further includes UE 1430 already referred to.Its hardware 1435 may include radio interface 1437 configured to set upand maintain wireless connection 1470 with a base station serving acoverage area in which UE 1430 is currently located. Hardware 1435 of UE1430 further includes processing circuitry 1438, which may comprise oneor more programmable processors, application-specific integratedcircuits, field programmable gate arrays or combinations of these (notshown) adapted to execute instructions. UE 1430 further comprisessoftware 1431, which is stored in or accessible by UE 1430 andexecutable by processing circuitry 1438. Software 1431 includes clientapplication 1432. Client application 1432 may be operable to provide aservice to a human or non-human user via UE 1430, with the support ofhost computer 1410. In host computer 1410, an executing host application1412 may communicate with the executing client application 1432 via OTTconnection 1450 terminating at UE 1430 and host computer 1410. Inproviding the service to the user, client application 1432 may receiverequest data from host application 1412 and provide user data inresponse to the request data. OTT connection 1450 may transfer both therequest data and the user data. Client application 1432 may interactwith the user to generate the user data that it provides.

It is noted that host computer 1410, base station 1420 and UE 1430illustrated in FIG. 14 may be similar or identical to host computer1330, one of base stations 1312 a, 1312 b, 1312 c and one of UEs 1391,1392 of FIG. 13, respectively. This is to say, the inner workings ofthese entities may be as shown in FIG. 14 and independently, thesurrounding network topology may be that of FIG. 13.

In FIG. 14, OTT connection 1450 has been drawn abstractly to illustratethe communication between host computer 1410 and UE 1430 via basestation 1420, without explicit reference to any intermediary devices andthe precise routing of messages via these devices. Networkinfrastructure may determine the routing, which it may be configured tohide from UE 1430 or from the service provider operating host computer1410, or both. While OTT connection 1450 is active, the networkinfrastructure may further take decisions by which it dynamicallychanges the routing (e.g., on the basis of load balancing considerationor reconfiguration of the network).

Wireless connection 1470 between UE 1430 and base station 1420 is inaccordance with the teachings of the embodiments described throughoutthis disclosure. One or more of the various embodiments improve theperformance of OTT services provided to UE 1430 using OTT connection1450, in which wireless connection 1470 forms the last segment. Moreprecisely, the teachings of these embodiments may improve the latency,and power consumption for a reactivation of the network connection, andthereby provide benefits, such as reduced user waiting time, enhancedrate control.

A measurement procedure may be provided for the purpose of monitoringdata rate, latency and other factors on which the one or moreembodiments improve. There may further be an optional networkfunctionality for reconfiguring OTT connection 1450 between hostcomputer 1410 and UE 1430, in response to variations in the measurementresults. The measurement procedure and/or the network functionality forreconfiguring OTT connection 1450 may be implemented in software 1411and hardware 1415 of host computer 1410 or in software 1431 and hardware1435 of UE 1430, or both. In embodiments, sensors (not shown) may bedeployed in or in association with communication devices through whichOTT connection 1450 passes; the sensors may participate in themeasurement procedure by supplying values of the monitored quantitiesexemplified above, or supplying values of other physical quantities fromwhich software 1411, 1431 may compute or estimate the monitoredquantities. The reconfiguring of OTT connection 1450 may include messageformat, retransmission settings, preferred routing etc.; thereconfiguring need not affect base station 1420, and it may be unknownor imperceptible to base station 1420. Such procedures andfunctionalities may be known and practiced in the art. In certainembodiments, measurements may involve proprietary UE signalingfacilitating host computer 1410's measurements of throughput,propagation times, latency and the like. The measurements may beimplemented in that software 1411 and 1431 causes messages to betransmitted, in particular empty or ‘dummy’ messages, using OTTconnection 1450 while it monitors propagation times, errors etc.

FIG. 15 is a schematic showing methods implemented in a communicationsystem including a host computer, a base station and a user equipment inaccordance with some embodiments.

FIG. 15 is a flowchart illustrating a method implemented in acommunication system, in accordance with one embodiment. Thecommunication system includes a host computer, a base station and a UEwhich may be those described with reference to FIGS. 13 and 14. Forsimplicity of the present disclosure, only drawing references to FIG. 15will be included in this section. In step 1510, the host computerprovides user data. In substep 1511 (which may be optional) of step1510, the host computer provides the user data by executing a hostapplication. In step 1520, the host computer initiates a transmissioncarrying the user data to the UE. In step 1530 (which may be optional),the base station transmits to the UE the user data which was carried inthe transmission that the host computer initiated, in accordance withthe teachings of the embodiments described throughout this disclosure.In step 1540 (which may also be optional), the UE executes a clientapplication associated with the host application executed by the hostcomputer.

FIG. 16 is a schematic showing methods implemented in a communicationsystem including a host computer, a base station and a user equipment inaccordance with some embodiments.

FIG. 16 is a flowchart illustrating a method implemented in acommunication system, in accordance with one embodiment. Thecommunication system includes a host computer, a base station and a UEwhich may be those described with reference to FIGS. 13 and 14. Forsimplicity of the present disclosure, only drawing references to FIG. 16will be included in this section. In step 1610 of the method, the hostcomputer provides user data. In an optional substep (not shown) the hostcomputer provides the user data by executing a host application. In step1620, the host computer initiates a transmission carrying the user datato the UE. The transmission may pass via the base station, in accordancewith the teachings of the embodiments described throughout thisdisclosure. In step 1630 (which may be optional), the UE receives theuser data carried in the transmission.

FIG. 17 is a schematic showing methods implemented in a communicationsystem including a host computer, a base station and a user equipment inaccordance with some embodiments.

FIG. 17 is a flowchart illustrating a method implemented in acommunication system, in accordance with one embodiment. Thecommunication system includes a host computer, a base station and a UEwhich may be those described with reference to FIGS. 13 and 14. Forsimplicity of the present disclosure, only drawing references to FIG. 17will be included in this section. In step 1710 (which may be optional),the UE receives input data provided by the host computer. Additionallyor alternatively, in step 1720, the UE provides user data. In substep1721 (which may be optional) of step 1720, the UE provides the user databy executing a client application. In substep 1711 (which may beoptional) of step 1710, the UE executes a client application whichprovides the user data in reaction to the received input data providedby the host computer. In providing the user data, the executed clientapplication may further consider user input received from the user.Regardless of the specific manner in which the user data was provided,the UE initiates, in substep 1730 (which may be optional), transmissionof the user data to the host computer. In step 1740 of the method, thehost computer receives the user data transmitted from the UE, inaccordance with the teachings of the embodiments described throughoutthis disclosure.

FIG. 18 is a schematic showing methods implemented in a communicationsystem including a host computer, a base station and a user equipment inaccordance with some embodiments.

FIG. 18 is a flowchart illustrating a method implemented in acommunication system, in accordance with one embodiment. Thecommunication system includes a host computer, a base station and a UEwhich may be those described with reference to FIGS. 13 and 14. Forsimplicity of the present disclosure, only drawing references to FIG. 18will be included in this section. In step 1810 (which may be optional),in accordance with the teachings of the embodiments described throughoutthis disclosure, the base station receives user data from the UE. Instep 1820 (which may be optional), the base station initiatestransmission of the received user data to the host computer. In step1830 (which may be optional), the host computer receives the user datacarried in the transmission initiated by the base station.

Due to embodiments in the present disclosure, with hopping of thesignature, the diversity gain for the transmission is improved. Thesuccessful rate of NOMA transmission in the communication system will beimproved. More users may be served by the network at the same time.Further, the latency, power consumption may be improved, since time andradio resources for transmission are better utilized.

In general, the various exemplary embodiments of the present disclosuremay be implemented in hardware or special purpose circuits, software,logic or any combination thereof. For example, some aspects may beimplemented in hardware, while other aspects may be implemented infirmware or software that may be executed by a controller,microprocessor or other computing device, although the disclosure is notlimited thereto. While various aspects of the exemplary embodiments ofthis disclosure may be illustrated and described as block diagrams, flowcharts, or using some other pictorial representation, it is wellunderstood that these blocks, apparatus, systems, techniques or methodsdescribed herein may be implemented in, as non-limiting examples,hardware, software, firmware, special purpose circuits or logic, generalpurpose hardware or controller or other computing devices, or somecombination thereof.

As such, it should be appreciated that at least some aspects of theexemplary embodiments of the disclosure may be practiced in variouscomponents such as integrated circuit chips and modules. It should thusbe appreciated that the exemplary embodiments of this disclosure may berealized in an apparatus that is embodied as an integrated circuit,where the integrated circuit may include circuitry (as well as possiblyfirmware) for embodying at least one or more of a data processor, adigital signal processor, baseband circuitry and radio frequencycircuitry that are configurable so as to operate in accordance with theexemplary embodiments of this disclosure.

It should be appreciated that at least some aspects of the exemplaryembodiments of the disclosure may be embodied in computer-executableinstructions, such as in one or more program modules, executed by one ormore computers or other devices. Generally, program modules includeroutines, programs, objects, components, data structures, etc. thatperform particular tasks or implement particular abstract data typeswhen executed by a processor in a computer or other device. The computerexecutable instructions may be stored on a computer readable medium suchas a hard disk, optical disk, removable storage media, solid statememory, RAM, etc. As will be appreciated by those skilled in the art,the functionality of the program modules may be combined or distributedas desired in various embodiments. In addition, the functionality may beembodied in whole or in part in firmware or hardware equivalents such asintegrated circuits, field programmable gate arrays (FPGA), and thelike.

The present disclosure includes any novel feature or combination offeatures disclosed herein either explicitly or any generalizationthereof. Various modifications and adaptations to the foregoingexemplary embodiments of this disclosure may become apparent to thoseskilled in the relevant arts in view of the foregoing description, whenread in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. However, any and allmodifications will still fall within the scope of the non-limiting andexemplary embodiments of this disclosure.

1.-30. (canceled)
 31. A method for multiple access transmission by atransmitter, comprising: determining a first signature allocated to afirst transmission of a block of data; and determining a secondsignature allocated to a second transmission of the block of data,wherein: the first signature is selected from a first set of signatures,the second signature is selected from a second set of signatures, andthe first set of signatures and the second set of signatures arepredefined based on a transmission policy or are configured by atransmission node.
 32. The method according to claim 31, wherein thefirst signature and the second signature are selected randomly.
 33. Themethod according to claim 32, wherein the transmission node is a node onnetwork side of a communication system.
 34. The method according toclaim 32, wherein the first set of signatures and the second set ofsignatures are received via layer 1 signalling or a higher layersignalling.
 35. The method according to claim 31, wherein the first setof signatures and the second set of signatures are the same.
 36. Themethod according to claim 32, wherein: the second transmission is are-transmission of the first transmission, and a size of the second setof signatures is smaller than a size of the first set of signatures. 37.The method according to claim 31, wherein: the first transmission is aninitial transmission and the second transmission is another initialtransmission; or the first transmission is a re-transmission of aninitial transmission and the second transmission is anotherre-transmission of the initial transmission.
 38. The method according toclaim 31, further comprising: determining a first frequency resourceallocated to the first transmission; and determining a second frequencyresource allocated to the second transmission.
 39. The method accordingto claim 31, further comprising: determining a first redundancy versionof an incremental redundancy allocated to the first transmission; anddetermining a second redundancy version of an incremental redundancyallocated to the second transmission.
 40. The method according to claim31, wherein at least one of the first signature and the second signatureis determined based on a transmission policy or configured by atransmission node.
 41. The method according to claim 31, wherein: the atleast one of the first signature and the second signature is determinedbased on a transmission parameter; and the transmission parametercomprises at least one of: a frequency, a redundancy version, and asystem frame number.
 42. The method according to claim 41, wherein arelationship between the at least one of the first signature and thesecond signature, and the transmission parameter is predefined based ona transmission policy or configured by a transmission node.
 43. Themethod according to claim 31, wherein the at least one of the firstsignature and the second signature comprises at least one of: anencoding parameter, a modulating parameter, a spreading parameter, aresource mapping parameter, a power allocation parameter, a resourcemapping pattern, and an orthogonal cover code.
 44. The method accordingto claim 31, wherein the transmitter is one of: a user equipment, atransmission branch of a user equipment, or a base station.
 45. Themethod according to claim 31, wherein the at least one of the firstsignature and the second signature is allocated to a block of data to betransmitted during one of: an uplink transmission, a downlinktransmission, and a sidelink transmission.
 46. A method for multipleaccess transmission by a transmitter configured to communicate with agroup of receivers based on a set of signatures, the method comprising:allocating a first signature from the set of signatures to atransmission of a block of data for a first receiver in the group ofreceivers, wherein the first signature is different from a secondsignature in the set of signatures allocated to a second receiver in thegroup of receivers when the first receiver shares a transmissionresource with the second receiver.
 47. An apparatus for multiple accesstransmission, comprising: a processor; and a memory having instructionsexecutable by the processor stored therein, wherein execution of theinstructions configures the apparatus to: determine a first signatureallocated to a first transmission of a block of data; and determine asecond signature allocated to a second transmission of the block ofdata, wherein: the first signature is selected from a first set ofsignatures, the second signature is selected from a second set ofsignatures, and the first set of signatures and the second set ofsignatures are predefined based on a transmission policy or areconfigured by a transmission node.
 48. The apparatus according to claim47, wherein the first signature and the second signature are selectedrandomly.
 49. The apparatus according to claim 48, wherein: the secondtransmission is a re-transmission of the first transmission, and a sizeof the second set of signatures is smaller than a size of the first setof signatures.
 50. The apparatus according to claim 47, wherein: thefirst transmission is an initial transmission and the secondtransmission is another initial transmission; or the first transmissionis a re-transmission of an initial transmission and the secondtransmission is another re-transmission of the initial transmission.